THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND - SPINNING INTO OVERDRIVE ???

MERCURY - began its transit through the curious and inquisitive sign of Gemini yesterday, June 6th, at 6:15 PM EDT ... once again it's time to let the Mental Olympics begin !!! ... Mercury is very much at home here and functions well not only because this is an air sign, but it is also considered to be in dignity as this is one of the two signs Mercury naturally rules - the other sign being Virgo ... the "windmills of your mind" are definitely going to probably be spinning in overdrive for the next 16 days potentially producing numerous scathingly brilliant ideas and plans you want to take action on ... Mercury was last in Gemini from June 12th through June 29th, 2016 - anything come to mind from that period regarding communications and even travel related issues ???

Mercury in Gemini gives a mind and tongue that can be very restless but very good at absorbing and learning information easily and then sharing it ... one can be quite articulate but sometimes have the tendency to talk or even gossip too much ... there is a skill for verbal expression and the ability to communicate quickly and cleverly ... often the ideas and manner of speech come off a bit superficial due to the urge to communicate perceived information immediately or because one is covering too much ground too fast ... this Mercury likes to talk ... and talk ... and talk ... and talk - thus yielding energy that has the potential to give many of us a brutal case of "diarrhea of the mouth" !!!



Mercury in Gemini is all about learning and communicating ... there is a high degree of curiosity about everything coupled with an eagerness to learn as much as possible - the world is ones school of life and therein exists a sumptuous, endless and delicious banquet to help quench an almost endless thirst for knowledge !!! ... the mind is likely to be logical, rational, and able to offer information on most any topic ... friendly interchanges are frequent along with the tendency to ask a lot of questions ... there is a high degree of nervous energy which can flow into speech, gestures, writing or manual dexterity in some fashion ... there is also the possibility of physical dexterity and flexibility ...

Those born with Mercury in Gemini, as well as the rest of us that are subject to its transiting influence, can be very hard to pin down ... one often holds down more than one job or may work on a number of projects at one time ... quick, versatile and interested in the world at large, one tends to live mostly on a mental plane ... one MUST have facts and information - there is a basic need to KNOW ... this energy frequently makes one good at languages and math, gives one a love of reading, studying , traveling, and talking with new people about what you have learned or are thinking about ... there is also the potential for a lack of being able to stick-to-it as well as a lack of order in ones life ... usually this energy can produce one who knows a little bit about everything but not a lot about anything !!!

Mercury in Gemini teaches us to learn to think through communicating ... the mind is fed and nurtured through making contact with as many people and as many subjects as possible ... the intellect is wired up and ready to go ... it must constantly be stimulated otherwise nervous irritability or restlessness can occur ... the mind is efficient due to its ability to be quick and acquisitive, but the quality of the mind is only as good as what is being fed into it through social, business and educational pursuits - input becomes just as important as output !!! ... there is the capability of thinking on two or more levels at one time ... but one must guard against not having a definite direction to move in or else there can be the result of great mental confusion ... the energy of Mercury in Gemini can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: articulate, curious, well-informed, widely read, quick-witted, lively mind, fast learner, dexterous, clever, humorous, sharp, fluent, inventive, versatile, original, handy, interesting, agreeable, unbiased, logical

NEGATIVE: chatterbox, nosy, gossip, superficial knowledge, highly strung, unruly mind, non persevering, fidgety, crafty, mischievous, flippant, makeshift, imitative, simplistic, trite, scatters energies, unfocused, misses the point

Mercury transiting through Gemini is an excellent time to open your mind to countless new ideas and information ... allow your mind to be like a sponge absorbing as much as it can realistically process ... meditation might even prove to be very useful during this transit to help process all of the information one may encounter both consciously and subconsciously !!!

Mercury now joins the Sun currently transiting through the sign of Gemini ... Mercury remains in the sign of Gemini until June 21st making its ingress into Cancer about five and a half hours after the Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) and Winter Solstice (Southern Hemisphere) which will occur at 12:24 AM EDT !!!

The universe is now presenting us, both individually and collectively, with a lot of information and ideas to absorb, process and perhaps even implement somewhere into our lives ... and as much as we will want to constantly share and express our opinions, we may find ourselves wanting to say or finding someone else saying to us - SHUT UP !!!

Ultimately one of the greatest lessons of Mercury in Gemini becomes the following: RESPECT THE VALUE OF YOUR OWN MIND - WATCH WHAT GOES INTO IT AND THEN BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH !!!

THE LOVE OF MONEY AND PHYSICAL GRATIFICATION !!!

VENUS  - the planet representing attraction, love, affection, beauty, happiness, value and values, how we relate, and social or artistic expression - began its transit through the earthy, stable sign of Taurus, today, June 6th, at 3:27 AM EDT ... Venus is very comfortable and at home functioning very well here ... it is considered to be in "dignity" in Taurus - this is one of the two signs of the zodiac it naturally rules - the other being Libra of course ... Venus was last in Taurus from April 29th through May 24th, 2016 - anything come to mind from that period regarding love, money, and partnerships/relationships either private or public ???

Venus in Taurus enjoys physical gratification - including food, drink, possessions, finances, and sensual indulgences - often to the point of becoming overly indulgent !!! ... it deeply enjoys sensations, appreciates nature, and truly savors the five senses more so than usual - especially TOUCH !!! ... this energy is often relaxed and easygoing in relating to people and it appreciates loyalty and stability ... affection is expressed physically and steadily - sometimes to the point of being too possessive ... the drive for pleasure is very strong and could easily make one excessively self-indulgent ... the handling of money and possessions is usually done sensibly, but there could be the tendency to overvalue comfort, luxury and/or attractive physical objects ... there is a desire for comfort in love relationships and one responds to sensual energy from other people ... an appreciation of beauty and artistic talents can lead to personal satisfaction and success !!!



Whatever this energy loves it will love completely and totally ... it believes relationships can last forever ... but sometimes the relationships last longer than they should ... the saying that old habits die hard is especially true with Venus in Taurus ... and this energy continues to think about all the time what it has "invested" in its object of desire !!! .. this is a steadfast love ... it also is prone to the love of good food so gaining weight could prove a challenge under this energy - over the lips forever on the hips ???

Venus in Taurus teaches us all about loving through stabilizing ... it's Nature's connoisseur ... there is a pronounced need to show physical affection in order to feel loved - mere words will NOT suffice ... the secret here to obtaining the object of your desires and maintaining a stable relationship is to understand that anything or anyone outside of yourself can only become a part of your life when your value and values are a reflection and in harmony with Nature itself ... this is one of the very strongest Planet-Sign combinations that indicates a genuine love of Nature ... the ultimate truth here is that what you love and care about is only as solid and secure as how you feel inside ... the energy of Venus in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: attractive, earthy, affectionate, artistic, aesthetic, peaceful, sensuous, satisfying, steadfast, loyal, wholesome, constant, sympathetic, encouraging, comforting, pleasure-giving, nature-loving, deeply trusting, sound values, conservational

NEGATIVE: greedy, materialistic, self-indulgent, overly sensual, self-satisfied, stubborn, possessive, smug, too abiding, misguiding, dissipating, insatiable, limited viewpoint, gullible, weight-gainer, jealous, insecure

Taurus born individuals, this is your time to reflect your inner beauty outwardly and ask for what you want - you just might get it if it is what you truly desire ... for the rest of us, we can now see what it might be like to be born with Venus in Taurus, as well as getting a glimpse into how Taurus born individuals may operate in their quest for love and defining where their true values lie !!!

Venus now joins Mercury, but for only about 15 hours until Mercury makes its ingress into Gemini today at 6:15 PM EDT, and after that Venus will be the only planet transiting through the sign of Taurus ... Venus remains in Taurus until July 4th !!!

That which makes us feel loved is our own persistent faith in our individual love nature ... and by the end of this transit we all will hopefully have been able to feel - just a "touch" of love !!!

THE FINE LINE BETWEEN STIMULATION AND OUTRIGHT AGGRAVATION !!!

MARS - the planet representing the urge to get what you want, personal drive, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy, as well as selfishness, abuse and violence - began its transit through the emotional, nurturing sign of Cancer today, June 4th, at 12:16 PM EDT ... Mars being a fiery planet does not fare too well in a water sign like Cancer as water tends to rain on its parade of aggression and initiative which in some cases can be a very good thing and in others cases very detrimental to its course of intended action !!!


Mars in Cancer is said to be in the sign of its "Fall" - that is it's in the sign opposite of Capricorn, where it is Exalted and tends to function even more efficiently than in the sign it naturally rules which is Aries ... so this Mars often has trouble expressing its true nature ... it's "fire" gets watered down and that can either produce irritating steam or sensual steamy energy ... it is like staying in someones home where you do not feel comfortable !!! ... Mars was last in Cancer from June 24th, 2015 through August 8th, 2015 - anything come to mind from that period ???

Mars in Cancer can be highly emotional and is pulled between expressing its feelings and holding them in ... there is a great need for emotional security ... one may assert themselves here indirectly, shyly, sensitively or carefully, but this Mars is definitely prone to emotional outbursts ... identity is closely tied to home, family, and feelings ... energy levels seem to rise and fall with ones moods ... if your heart is involved in something, then this energy can truly accomplish anything it sets its mind out to do ... anger is more often expressed through crying rather than screaming and yelling ... one has to be careful with this energy not to give too much to others just to avoid confrontation !!!



Mars in Cancer is teaches us to get what we  want through nurturing ... its fighting or taking flight ... the sex drive is usually very strong here but that can be good or bad depending on how the energy is expressed ... one of the challenges with this energy is to find out what is really making you angry and deal with it ... figure out who or what it is that you genuinely care about also ... ultimately we must learn where the fine line falls between stimulation and outright aggravation !!! ... We now leave behind our minds being set on fire for a thirst of knowledge as well as the desire to move about and that drive becomes turned inward to address our emotions and what we feel we must nurture !!! 

As Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and the Moon naturally rules the 4th house, we may encounter problems with the stomach - there could be a lot of you out there that become the victim of  acid indigestion, heartburn, and frequent upset stomach issues ... also the home, family, the mother or a maternal figure, women in general and the public in general are areas where one could find issues arising there if you react to quick without thinking things through ... and of course whichever house or houses the complete degrees of Cancer fall in your natal chart is certainly where you will find this increased "burning" drive to occur !!!

This Martian energy likes close involvements, a secure sex life, and an active home life ... it dislikes mild mannered emotions, distress within the family setting, inner doubts and domestic "fires" ... the energy of Mars in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: sensuous, provocative, passionate, sexually subtle, tenacious, protective, bold, hardworking, complex, adaptable, sensitive, healing, intuitive, original, occultist


NEGATIVE: irritable, evasive, too intense, sexually unsure, possessive, defensive, compulsive, neurotic, moody, quarrelsome, confusing, fatalistic, weird, spooky/spooked



Mars is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of  Cancer, but will be joined by the Sun and Mercury in a little over two weeks, and that is a lot of "fired" up emotional energy to be dealing with !!! ... Mars remains in Cancer until July 20th !!!

CANCER BORN, you will no doubt be "fired up" about something or someone during the next six weeks ... as always be careful not to incinerate, or in this case should I say perhaps be careful not to flood with your heightened emotional state, the object of your increased drive and desire !!!



We all will be experiencing this energy on some level of our lives ... we will be urged to keep the "home fires" brightly lit, but we must be careful not to go overboard and end up  "burning down the house" which might result in "crying yourself a river" !!!

"FOREVER YOUNG" !!!

The Sun began it's yearly gallop through the perceptive, versatile sign of Gemini Saturday, May 20th, at 4:31 PM EDT ... this is the final astrological sign of the Spring season in the Northern hemisphere and the Fall season in the Southern hemisphere ... Gemini energy is all about acquiring knowledge, communicating in a variety of ways, and constantly being on the MOVE ... so ... get ready ... get set ... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ??? ... and go you can because this year both Mercury and Mars are in direct motion unlike last year's solar transit when they were both retrograde during that solar transit - Mercury for the first 3 days and Mars for the entire transit of the Sun through Gemini !!!



In Gemini, the Sun encourages us to shine fluently - one may gain or seek recognition for their verbal skills and their ability to be highly creative through perceptiveness and the ability to compare, contrast, and find connections between ideas ... there is a need to shine by being versatile - here is a natural drive towards a wide ranging curiosity which could also get you into trouble or end up causing you to be too scattered ... a wide variety of talents, social contacts and hobbies will assist one in their self-expression ... there is also a need to shine for ones agility and flexibility - one could achieve recognition through their dexterity, adaptability or enhanced eye-hand coordination ... and there is a need to seek recognition for ones mental brilliance - one wants to feel proud of their intelligence, rationality and logic ... there is a tendency here to be ego-vulnerable regarding ones mental and communication skills ... pride and shame issues are tied to the mind in this sign ... and ultimately one needs to express themselves verbally and to achieve positive recognition for their intellect ...

Gemini is a masculine/air/mutable(flexible) sign ... its symbol is the Twins - associated with duality, humanism, versatility and communication ... the picture is that of two figures standing side by side with a line over the top and the bottom - also known as the glyph for the Roman numeral 2 ... symbolically, these two upright lines bounded on the top and the bottom represent wisdom, learning, and the power of the mind to synthesize information ... Gemini's key phrase is "I THINK" and its keyword is "VERSATILITY" ... Anatomically it rules the hands, arms, shoulders and lungs thus making this energy prone to strains and accidents with the arms and hands as well as being prone to bronchitis and respiratory ailments ... Gemini is the sign opposite to Sagittarius in the zodiac ...

As you are certainly aware of by now, Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini in addition to the sign of Virgo ... Mercury - the ancient messenger of the Gods ... in astrology it rules travel and communication with its main emphasis being quick cleverness and a nervous temperament ... but it also bestows somewhat of a fickle nature that tends to arouse unexpected anger in others sometimes the depth of which Gemini energy misjudges ... its keyword is "REASONING ABILITY" ... it therefore rules reason, mental and cerebral capacity, ability to communicate, intellect, awareness, dexterity, rationalization, transmission, words, opinion, and sensory perceptions ... its action is quick, uncertain, and volatile ... it deals with travel - especially short trips, brothers and sisters, children, clerking, speaking, writing, bookkeeping, secretaries, neighborhood activities, letters and mailings, means of transportation, trade, and techniques ... in your natal chart the place where you find Mercury shows how and where you communicate the best ... anatomically, Mercury rules the  nervous system, brain, sight, hands and arms ...

Gemini is the natural ruler of the 3rd house of the horoscope ... this is the house of side-by-side relationships whose keyword is "AWARENESS" ... the 3rd house shows the local environment you live in, your brothers and sisters, and all forms of communication - speaking, writing, and singing ... it indicates all means of transportation including short trips ... it shows the adaptability of ones mind to learning and to new ideas, the ability to relate to ones environment, and ones taken-for-granted skills ... this house shows the conscious and objective portion of ones mind as well as ones primary schooling ...

The Sun in Gemini teaches us all about learning to live through being able to COMMUNICATE !!!  ... here we have the contact maker ... one who is forever young ... Gemini is famous for its duality and sometimes contrary nature ... word and mind play is an endless source of amusement here ... versatility rules - everything is equally interesting to Gemini therefore making it most likely one of the least prejudiced of the 12 signs of the Zodiac ... Gemini has an extremely lively imagination making it also one of the most artistically creative signs as well ... ironically one can lack the imagination to see that in using ones imagination it draws one into a closer intimacy with life itself, but getting deeply involved is the Twins weakest ability ... ultimately one must realize that the answer to the eternal Gemini questioning lies within the imagination and not the brain!!!



The energy of the Sun in Gemini can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: amusing, perceptive, witty, eloquent, swift, ingenious, quick on the uptake, mobile, versatile, flexible, adaptable, imaginative, non-dogmatic, sees both sides, light touch, objective, clever mind, informative, resourceful

NEGATIVE: cheap, glib, sarcastic, chatterbox, fly, devious, shifty, evasive, dabbler, two-faced, fickle, "chases rainbows", non-committal, indecisive, superficial, aloof, unable to see the whole picture, bluffer, involved in excessive gossip



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN GEMINI BORN !!! - part of your reason for being here is certainly to not only learn about a lot of different information yourself, but to educate the rest of us as well, keep us on our toes and help us understand that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER when used positively !!!

The Sun now joins Mars already in transit through the sign of Gemini - that is a lot of energy urging us to get up and bust a move !!! ... the Sun remains in the sign of Gemini until June 20th/21st depending on which time zone in which you live ... to that end, respect your own dreams and avoid cutting corners in your pursuit of them ... more importantly, pay attention to the "value" of what you say ...

Gemini is truly a very youthful oriented energy, so for the next few weeks just enjoy "being a kid again" and think about what it must be like to be "FOREVER YOUNG" ... and with all this energy driving us to pursue so much information from so many places, we may end up feeling as though we are indeed moving at the speed of light !!!

"ANCHORING" OUR MENTAL AND COMMUNICATIVE ABILITIES ... ONCE AGAIN !!!

MERCURY, now direct since May 3rd, returned to the sign of Taurus to make its highly focused and concentrated complete transit yesterday, May 16th, at 12:07 AM EDT ... for those of you that need a refresher course on what this energy has the potential to produce here are the details:



Mercury began its initial transit through Taurus back on March 31st before beginning its first full retrograde journey for 2017, even though technically it was the second time Mercury has been retrograde this year, and on April 9th began its retrograde journey and returned to the sign of  Aries on April 20th where it would complete its retrograde journey this time around ... other than that, Mercury was last in Taurus from April 5th through June 12th, 2015 ... a longer than normal transit but due to its second retrograde journey for 2015 which was completely in the sign of Taurus !!!



Our mode of thinking and communicating now shifts for a second time this year from the rapid fire energy of Aries into the slower and more methodical energy of Taurus ... the keyword for this energy is "factual" ... here the mind and tongue work deliberately and steadily with the tendency to sometimes get stuck in mental ruts ... this energy can be highly practical and grounded ... business skills or any activity that incorporates the use of common sense usually accompanies this energy ... often there can be learning through tactile contact or actual physical manipulation of the world ... perceptions can often be limited due to a desire to learn slowly and carefully ... there is a desire to bring ideas down to earth, and there are usually interests in money, sensuality and physical comfort ...

Mercury in Taurus loves to read - ANYTHING !!! ... time is taken in order to arrive at all decisions ... this Mercury likes to "sleep on it" and needs solid, tangible, physical proof in order to really believe in anything ... the thought pattern is developed in terms of worth thus making "value" the ultimate selling point ... there is usually an excellent memory bestowed by this mercurial energy and it makes one a good observer but ironically one is apt to listen inattentively as their mind is almost always already made up and will rarely be changed !!! ... even though there is a love of reading, it is ultimately realized that experience teaches one the most valuable lessons in life ...

Mercury in Taurus teaches us to think through stabilization ... it's all about the concrete mind - SEEING IS BELIEVING !!! ... the mind here likes to chew things over and over in order to acquire a true depth of knowledge ... and frequently because this energy takes longer to reach a decision, opportunities may be missed ... this energy has its definite likes and dislikes ... there is more of a taste for the traditional rather than the abstract and the avant-garde, and one finds it is steady working habits that produce thorough and solid results ... ultimately there is a gift given here to see how any plan will work out in physical terms ... the energy of Mercury in Taurus can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: sound mind, thorough, patient, cautious, shrewd, resourceful, sensible, realistic, good concentration, mentally sure, deliberating, practical thinker, sense of form, steady mind, enduring, mentally laid-back, docile, undemanding

NEGATIVE: slow minded, plodding, tardy, guarded, mean-minded, money-grubbing, boneheaded, one-track-minded, overburdened, limited thinker, stubborn mind, lazy-minded, dumb, misses the point, couch potato

Mercury now joins the Sun which is currently transiting through the sign of Taurus until this Saturday, May 20th ...

Mercury will complete its full transit through the sign of Taurus on Tuesday, June 6th ...

Taurus born individuals, once again are you beginning to feel the tempo picking up in your thinking and communicating somewhat even though earth signs tend to slow things down somewhat by nature ??? ... now is your chance - along with the rest of us - to get a lot accomplished and get our minds "anchored" to a firmer foundation of rational and practical thinking with this earth energy !!!

TIME FOR MOVING ON !!!

MERCURY completed its first full retrograde journey for 2017 and stationed  back into direct motion on Wednesday, 5/3, at 12:33 PM EST - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF out there ??? ... and now both the Mercury AND Venus retrogrades are complete - time for moving on !!!



Hopefully, some of the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde will now begin to clear and subside as it becomes time to move forward into the swing of things on all levels ...

Over the next few days to the next few weeks or even months, there will undoubtedly be quite a few "a-ha" as well as "uh-oh" lights coming on in regard to decisions made or actions taken during the retrograde period from April 9th through May 3rd, and possibly as far back as March 27th when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it would come out of this retrograde journey on 5/3 which was at 24 degrees 16  minutes ARIES  ... did issues and complications or questioning arise in regards to things done during the last retrograde period from December 19th, 2016 through January 8th of this year ??? ... or maybe even as far back as the retrograde period from August 30th through September 21st/22nd, 2016 ??? ... and it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period issues may begin to arise already, and this includes actions begun from March 27th through April 9th which are potentially subject to review and revision or even dismissal !!!



Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying and extremely frustrating at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and fearless enough to dig deep down, as we need to validate, or in some cases invalidate, actions and situations gone awry and deal with them in order to finally release them to produce a calmer, positive and more productive state of mind thus allowing us to move forward to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! 

If you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses 4 degrees 51 minutes TAURUS back to 24 degrees 16 minutes ARIES falls - what kinds of issues did you have to  deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???

Of course the recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take yourself or have taken against you that you or the other person may now be regretting. or you may be simply wondering why you chose to do what you did or why you were the victim of a particular course of action from other(s), and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer ...  or perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it even happened ???



Relationships may have come to an end, especially while the first 7 days of the Mercury retrograde was embedded in the last 7 days of the Venus retrograde - some needed to be released and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things during this period ...  how many of you had relationship issues surface or resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... or how many of you had one or more people come back through your life that you thought you had seen the last of or even forgot about and now most of them are gone or going once again ???  ... and how many of you began new actions within a relationship, personal or professional without waiting for the retrograde period to conclude ??? ... AND ... how many of you got married - OOPSIE  ???



Did anyone make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action or that you are beginning to regret or will do so in the days ahead ??? ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made especially with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" ... so now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us - in regard to Mercury and its functions, it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives ... let go of what is best left in the past so you can achieve greater personal and spiritual growth !!!


Mercury retrograde in Taurus certainly may have given rise or the necessity to reexamine relationships especially while Venus, the planetary ruler of Taurus, was in retrograde ... and remember that Mercury in Taurus already "slows" down the mental processes with Taurus being an Earth sign potentially complicating matters even more so !!! ... Mercury was retrograde in Taurus for 12 of its 25 day retrograde journey this time around !!!



Taurus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house, a house of substance, of the horoscope ... as such, in addition to the usual suspects of a Mercury retrograde, were there issues regarding financial affairs, possessions (except real estate), investments, earning power, any gain or loss through your own effort, your inner talents and resources, your need for fulfillment, your emotional feelings, your sens of self-worth, your sense of values and your material debt ???



Venus, as previously stated,is the ruling planet of Taurus, so were there issues arising as well in the areas of art, culture, aesthetics, partners, beauty, charm, good taste, sentimentality, sweets and sugar, poetry, paintings, jewelry, singing, drama, music, emotional contacts, moral character, marriages, unions of all kinds, sociability, disposition, luxuries, pleasures and appreciation ???



On April 20th, Mercury returned to the sign of Aries where it may have especially complicated this retrograde journey ... Mercury retrograding in Aries certainly give rise to issues concerning making new starts ... this was NOT the time to make vast sweeping changes - which one should never really do in a personal planet - Mercury, Venus, Mars - retrograde period anyway ... rather one should have kept an eye open for possibilities that could prove more satisfying once the energy returned back to direct motion on 5/3 !!! ... again, if you've had a natal chart done and know where 24 to 29 degrees of Aries lies in your chart, then you may have experienced issues during the second half of this Mercury retrograde in your life !!!



Aries is the natural ruler of the 1st house, a house of self and identity, of the horoscope so there might have been issues regarding your personality, natural disposition, your individuality, the way you express yourself, the way you want others to see you, the way others actually see you, the way in which you package and market yourself, your physical body, your health, issues from early childhood years not dealt with, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance, as well as the beginnings of all new enterprises !!!



Since Aries is ruled by Mars, there could also have been issues in regards to your assertiveness, competitiveness, surgery and operations, accidents, inflammations, cuts, burns, violence and anger management issues !!!



In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there was more potential to have health issues, or recurring issues, in general the Mercury retrograde ...  there could especially have been issues with the throat and neck as these are the anatomical areas of the body Taurus rules ... and there was the potential for health issues in the area of the head as which is the anatomical area of the body Aries rules !!!




A Mercury retrograde period is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of complications resulting in having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!! ... so did anyone have elective surgery that could have been delayed for a time when the universal energy better supported it ???



Gemini and Virgo born since Mercury is your natural ruling planet, did you "try" and slow down for personal review and rethinking - especially in regards as to what has transpired in your lives since Mercury last resumed direct motion back on January 8th ??? ... what have you learned about yourself in regards to where you are going and whether or not you are proceeding wisely in order to become more successful ??? ... what did you discover that MUST be changed - in fact what did anyone discover that MUST be changed so you are not left stagnant and hanging in limbo ???

Mercury now moves forward to complete its entire transit through the sign of Aries which initially began back on March 13th - which it actually completed but per retrograde motion returned to on April 20th ... Mercury will conclude its transit through Aries on May 15th/16th depending on which time zone in which you live !!!


And now a reminder of what the energy of Mercury in Aries is all about for those that need a "re-fresher" course now that Mercury has resumed direct motion :

Mercury was last in Aries from March 21st  through April 5th, 2016 ...while Mercury transits the sign of Aries, and with Aries being a Fire sign, energy and action will be expressed either in an inspiring, creative, independent, or impulsive, aggressive, confrontational manner - thus we can end up being extremely constructive or extremely destructive depending on how we harness this energy ... Mercury in Aries means it is now in a dynamic relationship with Mars - the ruler of Aries - and the Mercurial energy is being pushed into overdrive ... but just how far into overdrive it is pushed remains the question ... nevertheless the mind will be frequently on overload as well as our actions too ... we may find ourselves moving too quickly and causing mishaps or accidents - especially behind the wheel where we will no doubt be using even more hand gestures than usual !!!

We will most likely come up with what we determine to be "scathingly brilliant" ideas but not all will be driven to fruition after they lose their initial novelty ... a lot of us will constantly be the victim of "foot-in-mouth" disease as we will have the tendency to speak before we think since the mind is processing so much so fast ... we may also experience sleepless nights or have difficulty going to sleep as we find that when our head hits the pillow the mind is still racing .... we will certainly have to be on guard about starting arguments and trying to stir up controversy simply because we feel like our words are the ultimate authority ...

With the mind and the tongue working rather quickly here, there is definitely a talent for debate and/or using words that are biting, ironic, and sarcastic ... communication will be made directly, forcefully and with confidence ... new ideas are always being sought here as it becomes necessary to be active in order to learn - even if the lessons end up being harder than we anticipated ... under this energy one is usually interested in courage, self-reliance, freedom and self-expression ...

Mercury in Aries teaches us to learn to think through doing ... this energy truly expresses the well known phrase that actions speak louder than words !!! ... just as fresh new ideas and experiences are sought out, there is the tendency at times to dwell on old grievances as well as on outworn interests ... if there is a failure to sustain enough mental input or assertion of ones intellectual outlook, there is the risk of nervous and/or physical restlessness that can develop into more serious mental or emotional conditions accompanied by matching circumstances ... slow down to clarify your objectives and then have the faith that you'll rise to the occasion ... make sure your force has a worthy cause attached to it ... realize that the tongue is indeed a sensitive muscle - so learn to "hold it", by learning to "bite" it gracefully, and appreciate what it is attached to !!! ... the energy of Mercury in Aries can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: quick-thinking, spontaneous, quick-acting, decisive, mentally forceful, stimulating, fighting spirit, fiery, frank, witty, to the point, observant, initiates ideas, thinks on ones feet, mentally active and agile, eloquent, verbally assertive, intellectually confident

NEGATIVE: impatient, irritable, quick-tempered, premature, headstrong, quarrelsome, spitting, thoughtless, sarcastic, terse, precocious, snap opinionated, snap decisions, verbally/mentally restless, one-sided viewpoint, intellectually arrogant



Mercury now joins Venus, still "recovering" from its recent retrograde journey (March 4th through April 15th), and Uranus already in transit through Aries - a potentially "lethal"combination for explosive verbal fireworks and actions that ultimately may become our undoing especially in partnerships and relationships if we are not careful with our words and actions !!!

Aries born individuals, you may become infused with an overabundance of ideas and plans in addition to speaking out more so than usual - but indeed we all may do so even if we aren't Aries born - proceed with caution !!!

As for this Mercury transit though Aries, one might be well advised to keep a lot of ice cream or something cool and soothing on hand as we are sure to have a sore tongue from having to bite it so often, well at least those who are wise enough to do so, to keep from allowing our hasty words to cause too much uproar, misunderstandings and unnecessary verbal confrontations which yields the well known caveat - "LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS" !!!

Mercury will exit its retrograde zone on May 20th  when it reaches 4 degrees 51 minutes Taurus, the point where it began its first full retrograde journey for 2017 back on April 9th ... Mercury remains in direct motion until August 12th when it begins its second (technically third) retrograde journey for 2017 at 11 degrees 38 minutes VIRGO !!!


And now that both Mercury and Venus have completed their respective retrograde journeys it is definitely - TIME FOR MOVING ON !!!

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE ... AGAIN ???

Venus returned to the fiery sign of Aries today, April 28th, at 9:13 AM EDT for its complete transit of this sign ... Venus had actually entered the sign of Aries on February 3rd, but got no further than 13 degrees 9 minutes Aries when it began its retrograde journey for 2017 on March 4th ... it returned to the sign of Pisces on April 2nd, and when it stationed back into direct motion moved forward to finally complete its transit through Pisces today ... one might expect to encounter issues or having to rethink some action taken from the initial transit of Venus through Aries especially in regards to finances and partnerships and relationships both public and private ... below is a reminder of what this "inflamed" love energy is all about for those who need a refresher course :



THE THRILL OF THE CHASE ... I'VE GOT YOU ... IT’S OVER - GOODBYE!!!!! ... and just like that, what we thought we so passionately and romantically desired suddenly loses its initial appeal ... moving right along - NEXT !!! .... get the picture ??? ... that is what many of us will experience on some level in our lives with Venus transiting through Aries ... Venus is now once again in a "relationship" with Mars which rules Aries and that often causes multiple problems on many different levels in our lives ... Venus is considered to be in detriment in Aries as it is in a sign opposite the one it naturally rules - in this case Libra ... in detriment a planet is not really operating at full power ... it's like visiting where you must conform to rules and regulations thus hindering your natural expression ... Venus was last in Aries from April 5th through April 29th, 2016 ...



There is the potential for many of us to become impassioned about someone or something or both ... we will pursue it with total dedication and determination ... and if we finally get it, we could find ourselves ultimately asking the question WHY especially after it loses its initial appeal and novelty !!! ... of course some of us may also find ourselves outright overly horny, some more so than usual that is, as we are "burning with desire" !!! ... Venus in the fire sign of Aries will seek its interactions with others and pursue things passionately, romantically, excitedly and adventurously ...



Venus represents our social urge and our sense of values ... it rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and is the natural ruler of the 2nd house - a house of substance representing your emotional need for fulfillment and feelings, your values, your sense of self-worth, your inner talents and resources and your earning power .... its the house of material debt .... Venus is also the natural ruler of the 7th house - a house of face-to-face relationships where the keyword is cooperation which might be somewhat lacking while Venus moves through Aries as we tend to be a little slack with our social graces at times along the way .... it represents both social, business and personal relationships ... its a house of open enemies and you may well find them during this transit so best to think twice before speaking which makes this transit very challenging ... the 7th house also indicates what you most lack  about yourself being opposite the 1st house, and you might find an increased desire to fill that void wherever it is perceived ... Venus is the anatomical ruler of the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste - there could be issues here with Aries ruler Mars possibly causing symptoms to  "boil up" with its fiery attributes ...



Venus in Aries is demonstrative ... we love the thrill of the chase of the person and/or object of our desire ... it is very outgoing and enthusiastic to the point of ending up sometimes becoming too aggressive and overwhelming ... most of the time it will be YOUR feelings and values that are center most on your mind instead of others .... it likes the novelty and newness of things and once that is over it can become very fickle and ready to move on ... it’s attracted to people who are independent, those with a lot of initiative, and certainly those who are creative with their originality ...



Here pursuit of passion is the name of the game but once the object of your attention has been captured, you, the hunter, may move on by viewing it as another trophy to put on your Venusian shelf of love and desire ... one of the biggest misjudgments made under this energy is mistaking sex for actual love over and over ...



Venus in Aries teaches us all about learning to love through doing - it's frequently referred to as energy that can easily produce love at first sight !!! ... this Venus likes a partner who is independent, the actual "chase", the social whirl, spontaneous and unexpected affection, and romance that is very bold ... it dislikes people who are too clingy and those who tend to be socially inactive ... the energy of  Venus in Aries can be expressed in the following ways :


POSITIVE: erotic, winning style, passionate, playful, demonstrative, outgoing, straightforward, popular, sparkling personality, generous, appealing, having a childlike charm, a romantic idealist, persuasive, warm-hearted, quick to move

NEGATIVE: overly flirtatious, lustful, irresponsible, blunt, inconsiderate, coarse, not subtle, wanton, a teaser, naive in love, easily hurt, clueless, too pushy, self-centered, impatient in love



If you know which house or houses the sign of Aries occupies in your natal chart, then you will most likely figure out where and how this transit of Venus may play out in your own life in addition to your relationship to society as well ... for those born with the Sun in Aries, at some point during this Venus transit, it will pass over your natal Sun giving you a day to just enjoy the world, your friends, your creative efforts, and simply being alive !!!



ONE CAVEAT - Venus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house and therefore rules money earned as well as money SPENT ... you should be careful about "burning" through your personal money while Venus is in Aries as the purse strings will be significantly loosened and expanded by this "heated" energy and you may find yourself wanting to increase your material holdings and also be drawn towards the purchase of big ticket or luxury items only to find yourself thinking at the end of this transit - "AND I SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE ...??? " ... also, as Venus naturally rules the 7th house of partnerships and relationships both personal  and professional, you might also find yourself thinking that you may have accidentally "incinerated" some of these as well !!!

Aries born, the love light is now shining on YOU ... AGAIN - take advantage of the added possibility of getting what you may so passionately ask for !!!



Venus now joins Mercury, currently retrograde until May 3rd, and Uranus transiting through the sign of Aries - what a hot mess !!! ... And ultimately the question becomes - Will sparks of romance or the emotional "daggers" of vengeance be flying as a result ???




Venus remains in Aries until June 6th !!!



When Venus finally leaves the sign of Aries on June 6th, in addition to wondering if the means of the thrill of the chase truly justified the ends of what we did or did not get, we could find ourselves summing up our experiences of Venus in Aries in one of three ways - "My Love is On FIRE", "Loves Labours Lost" or a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" !!!